Warming up in Winston-Salem

The Graylyn Estate is home to gorgeous stone buildings full of interesting furniture, décor and some incredible history — not to mention secret stashes of ice cream. Twenty-three directors of agronomy and superintendents from every region of the country gathered at this special place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for a customized opportunity: the Syngenta Business Institute.

In its 16th year, having previously helped grow the careers of more than 375 men and women, Mark LaFleur and Stephanie Schwenke from Syngenta worked alongside Kerry Shronts and Whitney Strickler from Wake Forest University to host the educational event. Lindsay Rusczak from G&S Communications also graciously answered questions and helped facilitate.

Seamus Foley, superintendent at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, valued the days spent learning. “The Wake Forest faculty and Syngenta representatives are ultimate professionals,” he says. “They have been refining the program year after year and it was a memorable experience. I would recommend it to anyone interested in sharpening their tools.”

What does the program cover? There were five formal education sessions, each lasting several hours and spread throughout three days. These sessions addressed work-life balance, leading across cultures and generations, managing individuals and teams, influencing and negotiating, and executive decision making. There were also facilitated roundtable discussions. Several attendees praised the impact of those gritty conversations.

“The work-life balance session was the one I was most excited about,” says Aaron Fankhauser, assistant general manager and director of agronomy for The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden, Colorado. “My priorities default to work more often than not. I wanted to learn what steps I can take to help balance some stuff out and not be spending extra time at work when I can get out of there. I want to be more intentional with time so I can enjoy it.”

The professors — Dr. Julie Wayne, Dr. Amy Wallis, Dr. Sherry Moss and Dr. John Sumanth — are all experts in their fields. They are also experts at providing relevant examples and pertinent exercises to help deliver the material.

“They kept us going the whole time. There weren’t any head bobs,” says John LeClair, superintendent at Cranston Country Club in Cranston, Rhode Island, a semi-private 18-hole facility. “The negotiation tactics were really good for me. Negotiating takes us out of our comfort zone. Nobody likes that confrontation and it’s not everyone’s favorite thing to have to do.”

With negotiating there is no substitute for being prepared, which includes thinking through what the other side desires and questions that may be raised. Know what you want and the conditions that will cause you to walk away from a deal. Ideally, there is a middle ground where everyone manages to win.

“I know how I manage,” LeClair says. “I am direct, I am short, I am from Massachusetts and I talk fast so I can come across as condescending.” He is now more aware of the effect of his words and style in everyday conversations.

“It’s not just about the work that’s going on but personal lives as well. That’s important. We can all do better with people,” LeClair says. While personal connections and giving praise comes naturally to some leaders, constructive feedback is more nuanced and can be more difficult.

One useful method is the DASeR Technique — Describing, Acknowledging, Specifying and Reaffirming. A notable example (and SBI tradition) is the story about Alberto sleeping in a wheelbarrow during work. What happens next? A well-structured interaction should be the goal — and as soon as possible after the infraction as long as you are calm. To learn more, look it up and call a colleague who can help you practice this technique.

“The networking aspect of this event is invaluable,” Foley says. “Having the ability to spend time with superintendents from across the country is what makes this experience so special. Tapping into the wealth of knowledge around the room was impactful. We all navigate similar challenges in our careers, so to learn different strategies on how to approach them is something I’ll keep with me.”

Foley is also excited to create a greater sense of purpose for the team he works with by reinforcing who is the ultimate beneficiary of their efforts. “Making a conscious effort to explain why a task needs to be completed may provide a sense of pride or ownership that supports our goals,” Foley says. Sometimes this feels like it slows the work down but it’s critical for long-term development and for serving others.

The warmth and personal attention provided by the staff of Graylyn Estate was excellent. From check-in at the front desk to the servers, chefs and friendly bartender, they helped to make the time together everything that it was. As the participants of the 2024 Syngenta Business Institute were taken care of, they return to their teams rejuvenated, even more savvy and ready to lead into 2025.

And speaking of 2025…

“If you are wondering if the Syngenta Business Institute is right for you,” Fankhauser says, “you need to apply. Try to get into the program. The takeaways from the week, the communication lessons learned, the managing across generations — there are so many things about what we deal with on the people side of it. A lot of us are great with turf but we spend 90 percent of our time with staff and stakeholders. This is an opportunity to grow that piece of you that you use every day. It’s beyond worthwhile.”

Lee Carr is a northeast Ohio-based writer and senior Golf Course Industry contributor.